Dear Serra Parents:

Beginning, Monday, February 8 at 7:30 a.m., the city will be doing construction on 20th Avenue and Stratford Way. Crews will remove the existing sidewalk and installing wheelchair ramps at the corners of this intersection. Some sidewalk, curb and gutter associated with the wheelchair ramp will also be replaced. We ask that you remind your sons to be respectful of the crews and allow them to work on these areas without any disturbance. Parking and traffic on the street will be affected from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Families are asked not to park in various areas, which will be marked by the city with "no parking" signs 24 hours in advance. We thank you for your patience and cooperation!

Cultural Awareness Day

Although we have not celebrated Cultural Awareness Day for the past few years, celebrating diversity is important to our community. Rather than just celebrating one day, we have decided that this year we will focus our events on Black History Month. Students are welcome to join any of the voluntary activities and will all be present for the school assembly on February 25.

ORIKI THEATER: Oriki Theater is a Bay Area-based performing arts company dedicated to the promotion of Africa's culture and heritage. With more than 50 local, national and international engagements a year, Oriki's professional ensemble cast presents a shared experience of the real Africa, its people and their way of life through workshops, community outreach programs and performances. The Oriki Theater also will provide a student assembly featuring African music and dance in the gym on February 25. Sarah O’Neal Rush is the great-granddaughte of Booker T. Washington—a former slave, famous educator and founder of Tuskegee University. She captivates audiences as she parallels compelling personal stories of her great-grandfather’s rising above slavery. Sarah demonstrates how ordinary people achieve extraordinary legacies. She will speak in the chapel during 4th and 5th periods on February 11. To help us celebrate cultures from around the world and here at Serra, the cafeteria will provide a menu of international food.

School Directory Update

On February 8, the school directory will be accessible online through the PCR Educator Parent Portal. Parents are reminded to verify their contact information in PCR. Please verify whether or not you would like your information to be accessible to other parents by checking or unchecking the Publish in School Directory bo under Household Information in the Parent Portal. After February 8, we will print a limited number of hard copies of the directory, which will be for sale at the Serra Bookstore. Updates to this information will be posted in the weekly Spotlight on Serra emails.

Outreach Opportunities

There is an opportunity for a student to go to Sage Eldercare nursing home in Menlo park to help a resident with his computer. If you are interested, contact Laura Callagy: lcallagy@comcast.net or via phone: 415/775-5642 or 650/652-5642

Junior and senior volunteer opportunities – If you need to finish your service requirement, please consider these two new opportunities:

Cipriani Elementary is in need of volunteers during after-school hours in their Homework Center. From now until the end of the school year, the center will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. Student volunteers will work directly under the supervision of a credentialed teacher in an elementary classroom. One-on-one or small group support will be provided to students grades 1-5 who require extra help with homework and/or extra practice for building skills. A current TB test is required. If you are interested in volunteering, contact: Maria Lang-Gavidia, Principal, Cipriani Elementary, mgavidia@brssd.org

The Burlingame Philanthropy Faire will be held at the Burlingame Recreation Center on February 7 (850 Burlingame Avenue). Please arrive by 3:45 p.m. and wear polo shirts. Contact Melanie Ryan for more information on volunteering for this event: 415-699-7926 or melanieryan@comcast.net

Tuition Assistance for the 2010-2011 School Year

Tuition assistance is available through Junípero Serra High School and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If you would prefer for us to mail you a packet, please call the Business Office at 650-345-0226. Tuition assistance is granted to families who demonstrate financial need. Most families who send their sons to Serra make financial sacrifices. The Tuition Assistance Program is designed to help those families that, even with their sacrifices, are unable to meet the financial obligation. All families who received tuition assistance for the 2009-2010 school year must reapply for the next school year. An application packet has been mailed to all families currently receiving assistance.

Applications are due February 5, 2010 and must be postmarked no later than that date.

Graduation with Jostens

It's not too late to order the custom Junipero Serra High School graduation announcements from Jostens. There is a limited quantity available so don't delay! You can order everything that you need for graduation from Jostens by calling 1-877-475-7027.

Need Photos? Reorder Online!

It's not too late to order Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch. By clicking the link below, you will find online ordering information for Panoramic Photos listed under Photo Events. You can also reorder school pictures by clicking here.

Mount Carmel Reunion

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Redwood City is celebrating 125 years! All alums are invited to participate in the many events scheduled during the year long celebration. Mark you calendars for August 13 – 15, our Anniversary Celebration weekend. You can also visit the website at www.mountcarmel.org/alumni and subscribe to the 125th anniversary page to receive updates as soon as they are posted, and find out how you can get involved. Or call Michelle Conci in the Development Office at 650-366-8817.

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Attention Football Fans:

Next Level Sports has just announced a NEW Spring Football Team!. Click on the links below to find out more!

Next Level Stars Spring Football Flyer

More info about Next Level Stars Spring Football

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* Do you need to update your email contact information? Please click here to visit the PCR Educator parent portal to change your information. DO NOT reply to this Spotlight e-newsletter to change your email address. Thank you.

* If you have a question about something mentioned in this e-newsletter, please contact the proper person at Serra directly.

Click here to access the school directory

* Please check our website frequently for fresh news stories about Serra:

Wishing you all the best in 2010!

Sincerely,

Antonia Ehlers
Communications Manager

Upcoming Events 

February 4:
Freshmen interviews,
6 to 9 p.m.  

February 4:
Friday Schedule:
1st : (Tri-School classes only) 8 to 8:45 a.m.
8th: 9 to 9:50 a.m.
2nd: 9:55 to 10:45 a.m.
Homeroom:10:50 to 11 a.m.
Break: 11 to 11:20 a.m.
3rd: 11:25 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
6th: 12:20 to 1:10 p.m.

February 5: Student Holiday, faculty in-service

February 9: Fathers' Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. (Library)

February 15: School Holiday (Presidents' Day)

February 16: Fathers' Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. (Library)

February 17: Ash Wednesday service during 8th period (regular Wednesday schedule)
1st: 8:15 to 9:05 a.m.
2nd: 9:10 to 10:05 a.m.
Break: 10:05 to 10:20 a.m.
Liturgy: 10:25 to 11:15 a.m.
4th: 11:20 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
5th: 12:15 to 1:05 p.m.
6th: 1:10 to 2 p.m.
7th: 2:05 to 2:55 p.m. 

February 25: Split Assembly Schedule:
1st: 8:15 to 8:55 a.m.
8th:  9 to 9:45 a.m.
Break
9:45 to 10 a.m.
3rd: 10:05 to 11:55 a.m.
LD Class, UD Assembly 10:05 to 10:55 a.m.
UD Assembly, UD Class 11:05 to 11:55 a.m.
4th: 12 to 12:40 p.m.
5th: 12:45 to 1:25 p.m.
6th: 1:30 to 2:10 p.m.
7th: 2:15 to 2:55 p.m.